Electric battery cell



Patented Get. 117, 1922,

UNITED STATES PATENT QTFTQEO ANKER S. LYHNE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC BATTERY CELL.

Application filed May 16, 1921. Serial No. 469,759.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANKER LYHNE, a citizen of the United States,

Bridgeport, county 0 5 Connecticut, have inven in Electric Battery Cells, lowing is a s This inven cells and has particula are known as bag type commonly use and hand flash with corresponding types 0 The main ob d in sma pecification. tion relates to electric battery r reference to what flash light batteries ll portable pocket residing at f Fairfield, State of ted an Improvement of which the follights, extension lights, etc.,

provide a more eflicient size of general use than the same time a s1 is now f holders or cases. jects of this invention are to battery for available, and at ze of Wider range of usefulness and adaptability than any now on the market, ber of sizes, factured by the m of sizes, cases and stock by dealers.

At the present time,

in sizes of dry batteries are the v0 t standard size, of a by 6 long, used etc., and occasiona with a lamp and reflect tached illumination, an standard size of about l-l/ l" for 2-1/3 long, occasionally used small holder, but more generally two or more with lamp of in a longer holder,

voltage,

and general detached standard cell is not generally considy because of its size be considered as a e in shelf life and large ered a flashlight batter and weight, but may standard of performanc burning life for in making the duce as nearly illumin smaller batterie thereby requiring a less numcases, and holders to be manuaker, and a less number holders to be carried in the two largest selllarge 1-1/2 bout 2-1/2" diameter door-bells, ignition, lly in portable holders or or attachment for ded the small 1-1 /2 volt diameter and singly in a in series of corresponding for flash light ation. The

s, the effort smaller sizes being to prothe same shelf life, and the life is active The matter of shelf life is very because while manufacturers as possible. That generally a electro-posent, but the shelf s not only upon the zinc but lume and character of the elece, and the electro-negative ele latter comprises a carbon rod depolarizing mixture woven textile material.

important, generally shelf life as much as possible. This'is also of advantage to the customer who uses a light irregularly or infrequently.

Furthermore, better illuminating service is secured from 3 volt batteries than from 1-1 /2 volt batteries such as ignition batteries, so that it-becomes desirable to furnish either single batteries and holders or holders putting two batteries in series, that is to furnish only, requiring simple insertion in the holder or case ready! for use. These holders are generally of cylindrical form, having a lamp, socket and reflector at one end, and a closure cap at the other end, with aswitch on the side, as shown in my Patent #1,183,310, dated May 16, 1916. There are practical limits to the size of such holders, depending upon the weight, length, and diameter, as the public will not generally use the large sizes, but demands better shelf and burning .life without objectionably increasing the size, for example, a holder capable of holding two large standard 6 inch batteries side by side or endto end, is too large and heavy.

After an extensive investigation of the problem from the standpoints of the manufacturers of holders and batteries, the dealers who stock the batteries, and the users of holders and batteries, with a view to the production of a cell best meeting the requirements of cost of production, burnin life, shelf life, and convenience, I have iscovered a solution of the problem by a novel proportioning of dimensions. Ihave found that by changing the proportion of length to diameter, as compared with the above mentioned small standard battery, that the shelf life will be approximately doubled, the burning life increased four to six times, the labor cost will be reduced approximately one third, with the total cost about doubled. This produces a battery considerably smaller than the large standard battery, but which will do the same work, and have about the same shelf and burning life. This enables my new cell or battery to be shipped in cartons containing one or more, Whereas large standard batteries usually require to be shipped in barrels or heavy cases.

batteries in units of two in series- The accompanying drawing illustrates a battery embodying the invention, wherein- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a two cell battery,

ready for a flashlight-case;

Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of my new cell, the electro-negative element being in elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the cell.

1 indicates the electro-positive element, preferably a drawn zinc cup, 2 the carbon rod, with metal ferrule 3 and 4, the electronegative element, consisting of a muslin bag containing the usual commercial or a special deplorizing mixture around the carbon rod and in good electrical contact therewith. The electro-negative element is separated from the electro-positive element, as by a washer 5 of paraiiined paper at the bottom, and from the sides by a surrounding layer of electrolytic paste indicated by 6. Above the electro-negative element and the surrounding layer of electrolytic paste is a transverse layer of paraflin indicated by 15, above the layer of paraffin is an air space, indicated by 16, above the air space is a paper collar 7, which fits the carbon rod and the Zinc cup closely, and above the paper washer is a layer 8 of sealing composition which comes slightly below the edge of cup 1. The electro-negative element is formed under pressure in a mold, and has thread wrappings 9, 10, at the sides and top respectively to hold the muslin wrapping 14 closed. 11 is an insulating side separator, as a rubber band to act in case the bobbin should be accidentally set off center in assembling.

In Figure 1, two of such cells are shown held in a wrapper or tube of paper or thin card board ready for use in a 3 volt series.

In the small standard cell above referred to used herein for comparison with mine, the comparative dimensions are as follows, the first column being for the former and the second column for mine.

Small stand- Lyhnellnew Y ard cell. Ratio of outside diameter to height of zinc shell 121.78 1 2.07 Inside diameter zinc shell 1.195 1.595 Outside diameter zinc shell 1.25 1.625 Height of shell 2.1875 3.375 Weight of active zinc .0215 lb. .049 lb. Width of annular space between bobbin and cup .0975 .095 (-ross section area of bobbin .7854 sq. 1,5526 sq. Capacity 1.227 cu. 3.88 cu. Area of active surface 5.98 sq. 12.65 sq. Diameter of carbon .3125 .3125 Height of bobbin 1.5625 2.50 Diameter of bobbin 1.00 1.406 Ratio of diameter of bobbin to length 1 1.56 1 1.77 Weight of electrolyte per cell .024 1b. .049 lb.

the proportions and dimensions given are not absolute, as reasonable variations may be made in, for example, external diameter and invention or substantially changing the characteristics of my novel battery. I have found that an increase or decrease of 1/8" in diameter, or about 8%, and an increase in length 1/4", or about 8%, does not materially change the result. Generally, the most important factor is diameter, but too much length or diameter makes the cases for three volt batteries too cumbersome and clumsy to be satisfactory to users. The reason Why I am not restricted to exact proportions is that any battery has one, or more constants or factors which do not change proportionately to changes in dimensions, such as minimum cross section of carbon necessary for strength and low resistance, and area of inactive zinc surface at the bottom and top. With the proportions I have worked out as stated herein, such constants or factors have a minimum effect on the burning and shelf life, and on the final design. At the same time this design permits low manufacturing costs measured on the basis of unit output and performance, because of the greater efii- -ciency of this design owing to the novel corelation of diameter to length worked out by me.

A two cell battery as shown in Figure 1 has a fiber or paper tube 12 to hold the units together in series end to end, and is especially adapted for flashlight cases, since the diameter is not too large, and the increased length and weight are not objectionable to the user, in view of the advantages obtained.

What I claim is:

1. A dry batter cell comprising an electro-positive cup e ement containing an electro-negative element, consisting of a carbon rod and depolarizing mixture, and electrolytic paste surrounding the electro-negative element, the diameter of the cup being related to its length in the proportion of approximately 1 to 2.07.

2. A dry battery cell comprising an electro-positive cup element containing an electro-negative element, the diameter of the cup being related to its length in the proportion of approximately 1 to 2.07, the cup containing an electro-negative element consisting of a carbon rod and depolarizing mixture Wrapped in muslin, the diameter of the electro-negative element being related to its length in the proportion of approximately 1 to 1.77.

3. A cylindrical dry battery cell comprising an electro-positive cup element containing the electro-negative element, and an electrolyte, and sealed at the top, the cup being approximately 1-5/8" diameter and 3-3/8 long.

4. A cylindrical dry battery cell comprising an electro-positive cup element containing the,electro-negative element and an eleclength of the cell without departing from the strolyte, and sealed at the top, the electronegative element being approximately 1-4/10" diameter and 2-1/2 long.

5. A cylindrical dry battery cell comprising an electro-positive cup element containing the eleetro-negative element and an electrolyte, and sealed at the top, the cup being approximately 1-5/8 in diameter and 3-3/8" long, and the electro-negative element being approximately 1-4/10 diameter 10 and 2-1/2" long.

6. A. dry battery cell 0? greater length and diameter than a small standard cell of known length and diameter wherein the length is related to the diameter in the proportion of approximately 1.78 to 1, having approximately one and one-half the length of said standard cell, and the electro-positive element having substantially twice the area of that of the standard cell, whereby four times the life of the standard cell is obtained.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANKER S. LYHNE. 

